Penny Richards' photos

I needed another Obama t-shirt, so I used the same stencil and applique procedure as I did for my first one.

Detail view of the crocheted insert along the side seam of a thrifted blouse I altered for better fit (and also because it was fun). Thrifted crochet cotton, too.

Longer view of the crocheted insert along the side seam of a thrifted blouse I altered for better fit (and also because it was fun). Thrifted crochet cotton, too.

Made my sash for my Halloween costume--I'm a 1912-era suffragette (dressed all in white, as many did for parades and demonstrations). I'm still working on the hat and a protest sign demanding passage of the 19th Amendment...\ This costume was partly inspired by the Library of Congress Flickr Commons project, which uploads 50 news photos from 1910-1915 every Friday--I'm addicted, look forward to seeing what new treasures will appear every Friday. Many feature suffrage demonstrations and events, but others are sports related, or coverage of famous trials, or newsmakers visiting New York, or natural disasters... you name it. Check it out!

These are some of the printing projects the Lincoln docents made at our recent training workshop. You can see in the upper right corner that they made foam stamps on squares of cardboard, then painted them and printed on canvas--the lesson was about Marimekko and bright fabric designs.

Made this pin for Johanna, who is in a red part of a blue state. Painted wood blank base, inkjet text, punched scrap paper, lots of modpodge, some nailpolish too.

Somewhere in Durham NC, there's a voter-registration dynamo named Louise. Louise is so tireless in her work that her kids are sometimes embarrassed--but Louise proclaims, "this is HISTORY! I don't have time to be embarrassed!" This pin is for Louise.

Made a new batch of Obama collage pins in more autumnal colors--these are smaller than the other ones. The round pins are made by recycling old pins and paper scraps; the star pins are made on wooden blanks, with bar-pin findings glued to the back, and acrylic paints, nail polish, and paper bits on the front. (Words on the star pins are cut out of a disintegrating novel.) Lots of Mod Podge, as usual. The previous offer stands--if I know you somehow, and you live in a red or contested state, I'll give you one of these, just shoot me an email and tell me which one you want, and I'll plunk it in the mail within 24 hours.

This is the sky just after sunset from the middle of the street in front of my house. For Lisa C.'s Welcome Fall project.

Told you I'd have to make some more. Made from paper scraps and modpodge, using old buttons as the base. I'm going to carry these and further similar creations around with me, so if you know me in person just ask and I'll give you one from my bag; if I know you, *and* you live in a Red or contested state, shoot me an email and I'll put one in the mail for you.

Made this for Lisa W., who expressed a desire for one, without paying $10 shipping from one of the online shops. It's printed on my printer, modpodged onto an old pin, and decorated with punched paper flowers, ink, and paint. I'd wear it myself, but I'm more of a Swimteam Mom for Obama. Hey..... This was fun, and quick, and I can definitely see making a bunch more in coming weeks. Blogged here: pennamite.wordpress.com/2008/09/19/hockey-mom-for-obama/

Sewing for Halloween already! These are both made from the same very lovely thrifted sheet--see the beautiful embroidered edge? The blouse is from Simplicity New Look 6809--somewhat longer than the pattern, because I took advantage of the other existing hem of the sheet. This is part of my costume... more soon.

Sewing for Halloween already! These are both made from the same very lovely thrifted sheet. The blouse is from Simplicity New Look 6809--somewhat longer than the pattern, because I took advantage of the other existing hem of the sheet. This is part of my costume... more soon. (After Halloween, I'll probably dye these a more wearable color, or colors.)

Love this house (actually a boutique) in El Segundo--pink and brown argyle diamonds cover one side.

Inserted some rows of crochet at the side and sleeve seams, to make this thrifted blouse fit more comfortably.

Inserted some rows of crochet at the side and sleeve seams, to make this thrifted blouse fit more comfortably.

Enjoy Lisa!

To make my reverse-applique Obama shirt, I printed the word OBAMA in 100pt outline font, and cut out the letters (don't worry about the middles of the O, B, and A's right now). I used a small amount of undiluted white acrylic paint to stencil the word onto a thrifted blue Geoffrey Beene 3/4 sleeve t.